Beverage dispenser regulation



April 28, 1970 L. M. PUSTER BEVERAGE DI SPENSER REGULATION Filed Aug. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I l 'I I! I :a I I I I INVENTOR. LOU I S M. PUSTER HIS ATTORNEYS FIG-I April 28, 1970 M. PUSTER 3,508,569

BEVERAGE DISPENSER REGULATION Filed Aug. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m" R. mm ow my N OE m2 mm mm 9m 2w 1 1N N M 92 5 I x m HIS ATTORNEYS A ril 28, 1970 M. PUSTER 3,508,569

BEVERAGE DISPENSER REGULATION Filed Aug. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-8 I22 H6 H4 H2 H0 I00 2 94 Y Y l V INVENTOR.

LOUIS Mi PUSTER HIS ATTORNEYS P 1970 M. PUSTER 3,508,569

BEVERAGE DISPENSER REGULATION F'il ed Aug. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Mm 98 254 236 INVENTOR LOUIS M. PUSTER HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,508,569 BEVERAGE DISPENSER REGULATION Louis M. Puster, Robertshaw Controls Company, P.O. Box 400, Knoxville, Tenn. 37601 Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,656 Int. Cl. B6511 1/14; F16k 31/145 US. Cl. 137-116.5 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A beverage dispenser has a high pressure gas container supported at one end. The gas container has a massive end wall with a homogeneous extruded high pressure liquefied cylindrical gas chamber which has its free end curled inwardly to form a reduced size free end which receives a sealing plug. The massive end wall has a gas expansion valve with a gas inlet extending toward the high pressure gas chamber and an expanded discharge outlet discharging into a reduced pressure chamber in said massive end wall. An expanded gas check valve is provided in the side of the massive end wall. The gas container is made from an aluminum slug and is formed by cold extrusion and by machining operations into a massive body having an intermediate wall with an expanded gas side in one direction and with a high pressure liquefied side in the opposite direction.

This invention relates to beverage dispenser regulation.

One of the features of this invention includes a high pressure gas container in which the main cylindrical wall of the container is made by cold extrusion from a slug.

Another feature of this invention includes the closing of the free end of the cylindrical container to provide a reduced size free end and with a plug a such reduced size free end, which is sealingly secured to seal such free end.

Another feature of this invention includes a construction in which the inlet end of a tube which is connected to an expansion valve is provided with a restrictor formed by the insertion of a straight sided equilateral restrictor plug inserted in a cylindrical end portion of such tube through which the high pressure gas is expanded.

Another feature of this invention includes a poppet check valve construction adjacent an aperture, the poppet check valve having a base which controls the fluid fiow through the aperture, said check valve having a poppet check valve stem extending through an opening adjacent the aperture, such stem having an enlargement holding such base operatively over the aperture.

Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic cross section of a charged liquid container within which is placed a charging high pressure liquefied gas container and regulator.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross section, partly broken away, showing details of the charging gas container and regulator.

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section of a check valve construction which discharges expanded gas from the container and regulator into the liquid to be charged.

FIGURE 5 is a view of a portion of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross section taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 7.

3,508,569 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 FIGURE 9 is a cross section of the cup like cage.

FIGURE 10 is a view from the line 1010 of FIG- URE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view from the line 1111 of FIG- URE 9.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of the abutment screw and spring adjusting ring construction.

FIGURE 13 is a cross section of the screw construction of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a view from the line 1414 of FIG- URE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a cross section of the externally threaded ring to hold the cup member of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 16 is a view taken from the line 16-16 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a cross section of another embodiment of the gas charging means.

Certain words may be used in this specification and in the claimed subject matter which indicate direction, relative position, etc. These words are used for the sake of brevity and clearness. However, it is to be understood that such words are used only in connection with the drawings of this application, and that in actual use, the parts described by such words may have entirely different direction, relative position, etc. Examples of such words are vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, etc.

This invention relates to beverage dispenser regulation. For example, a beverage dispenser may include a beverage, or charged liquid, dispenser 20' which may be of a suitable size to be placed in the domestic refrigerator and the like. For example, such dispenser may have a storage capacity of 500 cubic inches of beer, or the like, with a C0 charged pressure of 13.5 p.s.i.g. (pounds per square inch gauge). The dispenser 20 may have a keg-like casing 22 in which the horizontal portion of the casing 22 is provided with a front end wall 24 and a rear end wall 26. The front end wall 24 may be inwardly countersunk and may be provided with a dispensing faucet 28, which is opened by outward movement of the handle 30, and is closed by inward biased movement of the handle 30'. A discharge spout 32 dispenses the charged liquid, which may be beer or the like, under control of the handle 30. The faucet 28 may be connected to a supply tube 34, which may have its intake end 36 adjacent the lowest normal portion of the beer space within the casing 22. All of the parts of the faucet 28 may be inside of the rim 38.

The rear end wall 26 may be countersunk within the rim 40, but may be outwardly concave and may be provided with an opening or bung 42 formed by the cylindrical or circular wall 44.

During the filling operations, the beverage dispenser 20 may be sup orted on the front rim 3 8, with the longi tudinal axis 46 in vertical position, and the beverage or beer may be introduced through the opening 42 in a sufficient amount, so that its normal highest level, when the dispenser is in horizontal position, may be substantially along the line 48.

After the beverage has been delivered in the basing 22, while in vertical position, the regulator housing or CO cartridge 50 may be inserted into the casing 22, with its rim 52 sealed and secured to the circular wall 44 by any well known suitable means, which is not part of this invention.

The regulator housing or CO cartridge 50 may be of unitary construction. An aluminum slug, made of commercial aluminum, or of a suitable aluminum alloy may be formed by cold extrusion and by machining operations to form a massive expansion valve and expansion valve chamber supporting body 54 with such body 54 having an intermediate wall 56 with an expanded gas 3 side 58 directed in one direction, and with a high pressure liquefied gas side 60 directed in the opposite direction and with a cylindrical, homogeneous high pressure gas chamber forming wall 62 with an originally cylindrical free end 64 extending from said high pressure liquefied gas side 60.

After the col dextrusion has been performed, a tube receiving opening 66 may be formed or machined in the intermediate wall 56, so that the opening 66 connects the expanded gas side 58 and the high pressure liquefied gas side 60.

A generally frustoconical end sealing plug 68 may be placed in the cylindrical Wall 62. Thereafter, the end 64 may be inwardly curled, as at 70, by a press operation, for example, to form a reduced size free end 72.

Thereafter, the plug 68 may be held against the reduced size free end 72 by any suitable holding means passing through the tube receiving opening 66, such as by any suitable rod like tool inserted in the receiving opening 74, to hold the plug 68 firmly against the reduced size free end 72.

Thereafter, the plug 68 may be bonded and sealed to the reduced size free end 72 as by welding it at 76 to form a weld which secures the plug 68 in place.

This construction provides a flange 78 which takes the outward thrust of the charge pressure, of liquid CO for example, on the outer area of the plug, so that the weld 76 is primarily a seal.

Thereafter, the holding means or tool may then be removed from the tube receiving opening 66.

Thereafter, an expansion valve supporting tube 80 may be secured in the tube receiving Opening 66, by the threaded construction shown at 66.

The tube 80 may have a cylindrical intake end 82 extending toward the high pressure liquefied side 60, said tube having a discharge end 84 extending toward said expanded gas side 58.

An expansion valve '86 may be secured in the supporting tube 80. Such expansion valve may be of the well known tire inflating, check valve, type with an operating stem 88 extending toward said expanded gas side 58 and with a poppet, or valve opening and closing member 90, which is operated by the stem 88, and which poppet 90 extends towards the high pressure liquefied gas side 60. Thereafter, an expanded gas pressure responsive diaphragm 92 may be secured in the massive body 54 adjacent to and actuating the stem 88. The diaphragm 92 may be responsive to the expanded gas pressure on the right side of the diaphragm, and to a combined atmospheric pressure and spring load pressure on the left side (as viewed in FIGURE 2) in a manner more fully explained elsewhere.

A liquefied gas restrictor or filter 94 may be provided adjacent the intake end 82 of the supporting tube 80-.

The supporting tube 80 may be secured, so that the intake end 82 is located slightly above the normal highest liquefied gas level 96 in the pressure chamber 98. The restrictor 94 prevents any large slugs of liquefied gas from reaching and harming the poppet 90 of the expansion valve '86-.

The liquefied gas restrictor 94 may be formed by inserting a straight sided equilateral restrictor plug 100 in the cylindrical end portion 102 of the supporting tube 80.

The restrictor plug and 106.

The restrictor plug 100 may have the edges 108 of the sides 110 rounded to fit the cylindrical end portion 102.

The liquiefied gas restrictor or filter '94 may be made from an equilateral multisided bar, such as a square bar of aluminum, such as aluminum alloy 606l-T6. One end of the bar may be machined to produce the straight sides 110, the curved edges 108 and the tapered ends 104 and may have its ends tapered at 104 106 as previously described. Additionally such bar may be machined to have a cylindrical neck 112 and a circular head 114. The head 114 may extend into the thicker portion 116 of the tube 80.

For example, the tube may be 1 inches long from the intake end surface 118 to the discharge end surface 120, FIGURES 5 and 8. The outer diameter of the outer surface 122 may be 0.312 inch. The inner diameter of the thin end portion 102 may be from 2285-2295, while the inner diameter of the thicker part 116 may be from .1835.1845 inch in diameter, with the surface 134 being at 45. The outer threaded portion 124 may be inch in diameter and the inner thread 126 may be from .180 .185 for cut thread and from .194-.197 for rolled threads. The hexagonal nut 128 may be W inch between parallel sides.

The plug 94 may be substantially inch from the surface 130 to the surface 132. The distance between the parallel sides 110 may be from .1885.1865 inch. The diameter of the neck 112 may be .125 inch while the diameter of the head 114 may be from .l77.l79 in diameter. The thickness of the head 114 may be from .052- .072 and the thickness of the neck 112 may be from .O52-.072, such thickness being balanced to produce a total Vs inch length of the plug. The tapers 104 and 106 may be at 30 and may be substantially /s2 inch long at the maximum distance.

The massive supporting body 54 originally may have been a solid portion of the slug having the tapered walls 136 formed either by extrusion press action, or by machining action, also to provide the cylindrical portions 138 and the rim 52. A cylindrical, expanded gas chamber 140 may be machined coaxially with the tube receiving opening 66 which also has been machined in the body 54. The chamber 140 may terminate in a diaphragm receiving wall 142 which may have the bead receiving groove 144. The diaphragm 92 may be placed adjacent such wall 142 with the bead of the diaphragm in the bead receiving groove 144. The periphery of the diaphragm may be held against such wall 142 by means of a cuplike cage 146 which is shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 9, 10 and 11.

A somewhat cylindrical atmospheric pressure cavity 147 also has been machined in the massive body 54, which includes the threaded wall portion 147' and the slightly greater diameter cylindrical wall portion 147".

The cage 146, FIGURES 9-11, has an outer cylindrical ring like portion 148, the free end of which engages the periphery of the diaphragm '92. The cage 146 also has three longitudinal walls 150, which are attached to the end wall 152. The longitudinal walls are joined to the ring 148 by the radial walls 154. The longitudinal walls 150 are spaced from each other, to form air and/ or released CO passageways 156.

An externally threaded ring 158 is threaded into the internal threads 147', and pushes the cylindrical ring portion 148 tightly against the periphery of the diaphragm 92. The ring 158 is provided with key engaging slots 160, so that the ring 158 can be keyed tightly to engage against the cylindrical ring portion 148. Such ring 158 is also shown in FIGURES 15 and 16.

An abutment 162, FIGURES 2, 12-14, is provided which may be in the form of a screw having a head 164, which has a rotatable adjusting means or key opening 166, FIGURE 13. Such screw 162 carries an adjustable spring end receiving member in the form of a ring 168 with a flange 170, FIGURE 12. The ring 168 is internally threaded and engages the threads of the screw 162. The small knob 172 on the screw head 164 is received in the opening 174 in the end wall 152 of the cage 146.

The ring 168 and flange form a spring end receiving means, in which one end of the compression spring 176 is recived, as shown in FIGURE 2. The other end of the spring 176 is received in a spring receiving disc 178, which has a groove 180 for receiving the other end of the spring 176. The disc 178 engages the atmospheric side of the diaphragm 92.

The flange 170 is hexagonal in shape with three of its sides fitting and locking against the inner surfaces of the three longitudinal walls 150 of the cage 146. Since the cage 146 is held stationary by the ring 158, rotation of the screw head knob 172 by a knurled tool causes the ring 168 and flange 170 to be adjusted longitudinally to vary the load of spring 176.

It is therefore to be seen that the pressure of the spring 176 may be adjusted by rotating the small knob 172 by a knurled end wrench or the like which can be inserted in the opening 166. Rotation of the knob 172 causes the ring 168 and flange 170 to move rightward, or leftward, as the case may be, to increase or decrease the pressure of the spring 176 on the diaphragm 92. Therefore, adjustment of the knob 172 can regulate the responsiveness of the diaphragm 92 to the expanded gas pressure in the chamber 140.

The diaphragm 92 may have a tapered aperture 181 through which excess or undesirably high pressure gas may be discharged from the chamber 140 into the atmosphere through the passageways 156. A poppet valve 182 may have a poppet valve stem 184, which is tapered. The poppet valve 182 also may have a poppet valve base 186 which controls the flow of gas through the aperture 180, virtually to open and close the aperture 180.

The poppet base 186 also engages the expansion valve stem 88, and opens and closes the expansion valve poppet 90 in response to movement of the diaphragm 92.

The poppet valve stem 184 is tapered with decreasing transverse dimension as the distance increases from the base 186. The aperture 181 is tapered with decreasing dimension as the distance increases from the disc when the base has closed on the aperture. The aperture 181 tapers more acutely than the poppet valve stem 184.

The pressure relief poppet valve 182 operates in the following manner. In the event of a higher than normal pressure on the right side of the diaphragm 92, the diaphragm will move to the left, FIGURE 2, and move the relief valve poppet 182 away from the stem 88. The pressure differential across the relief valve 182 will be sufficient to make the poppet 182 follow the diaphragm 92 and maintain tight closure of the poppet valve 182 until the diaphragm has moved far enough so that the stem 184 contacts the end of the adjustment screw 162. Further movement, to the left, of the diaphragm 92 will cause the relief valve 182 to unseat and vent gas through the central aperture 181 in the diaphragm 92. The relief valve 182 is made of a plastic material such as Delrin in order that it may have low thermoconductivity. Since the temperature of the gas escaping may be below 32 F. this inhibits freezing of any moisture that may be present in the valve 182 area. In addition, the stern 184 on the valve 182 is tapered in the direction shown such that any ice formation would be less likely to cause the valve to hang. Also, the aperture 181 in the diaphragm is tapered more acutely in the direction to minimize hang up.

Since the relief pressure is controlled by the amount of movement of the diaphragm from contact with the stem 88 to the end of screw 162, (distance X) the relief pressure will always be a certain pressure above the normal control pressure. For example, it can be chosen to be in the order of to 15 p.s.i. above normal control pressure. With the design as shown, the dimension X (the maximum distance of travel of the point of the stem 184) is small enough that it is not necessary to retain the valve 182 in any manner since it cannot fall out of place even with the diaphragm in the extreme left hand position.

The expanded CO or other gas in the chamber 140 may be discharged into the beverage or other liquid in the casing 22 through an aperture 188, FIGURE 4, and past a check valve 190, which discharges into the beer containing space 191 of the casing 22. Such check valve 190 may be a discharge poppet check valve adjacent the aperture 188 and may have a poppet check valve base 192, which has a resilient rim 194 which seals the aperture 188, when the rim 194 is held against the stationary wall 196, which is part of the wall of the chamber 140. The check valve may also have a poppet check valve stem 198, which has an enlargement 200 which holds the stem 198, and the base 192 operatively securely in the opening 202, which is adjacent to the aperture 188.

The valve base 192, the stem 198 and the enlargement 200 may all be resilently and homogeneously joined toget-her, and may be made of any homogeneous resilient material as desired.

The container 98 may be charged with liquid CO through the resilient needle receiving plug 204, FIGURE 2, which has a normally sealed slit or puncture 206, so that the charging needle for liquid CO can be inserted therein. A plate 208 has a needle arresting portion 210, which spaces the gas flow openings 212. Slanting passageway means 214 may contain a tire inflating type valve 216, with a stem 218 and a poppet 220, so that the liquid gas introduced by the needle may find its way into the container 98.

A rupture disc 222, FIGURE 2, may be held by a resilient O-ring 224, solid ring 226 and threaded ring 228. Any excessive pressure in the chamber 98 will burst the disc 222 and allow the CO to escape. The pressure of any relief means herein shown, such as rupture disc 222, is capable of bursting or breaking the protective plastic cover 230, FIGURE 1, which may have been placed over the end of the circular wall 44.

The ring 228 may have a hexagonal inner surface, so that it may be turned by any hexagonal wrench construction for tightening or removing the parts there held by the ring 228.

Another embodiment of a charging needle receiving construction is shown in FIGURE 17. A gas chargeable container, such as container 98, may have an end wall 232 with a charging needle receiving construction 234. Such construction 234 may be placed in a gas charging passageway 236 with a longitudinal axis transverse to the wall 232. Another conducting passageway 238 may branch obliquely at a branching connection 240' from such charging passageway 236. The branching oblique passageway 238 may discharge into the container 98.

A charging needle receiving resilient plug 242 in such construction 234 may have a needle receiving, normally sealed, central puncture 244.

A needle blocking plate 246 may be placed next to the plug 242 with a gas passage means or holes out of needle alignment with the puncture 244. A transverse wall 250 next to the plate 246 has a central gas conducting passageway 252 with a discharge opening in the flat transverse surface as shown. A resilient O-ring 254 is held against the flat transverse surface and surrounds the discharge opening 252. A ball shaped check valve 256 engages the O-ring to produce a one way gas flow in the branching passageway 238. The ball 256 may he held against the O-ring by the spring 258.

The gas from the charging needle passes the holes 248, passageway 252, moves and passes the ball 256 and into the passageway 238 and container 98.

If desired, other passageways and valves may be provided in the supporting body 54. For example, a passageway may be provided from the outer surface of the body 54 to the beer containing space 191, as is well known. Such passageway may be provided with a pressure relief blow off valve which opens if the pressure in the space 191 becomes excessive.

It is thus to be seen that a new, unobvious and useful beverage dispenser regulation has been provided. This includes the novel method of extrusion of the cylindrical 'Wall combined with the machining operations to produce the regulator of this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising:. forming a metal slug into an extruded massive expansion valve and expansion valve chamber supporting body with said body having an extruded intermediate wall with an expanded gas side directed in one direction and with a high pressure liquefied gas side directed in the opposite direction and with an extruded cylindrical, homogeneous, high pressure gas chamber forming wall with a free end extending from said high pressure liquefied gas side;

forming a tube receiving opening in said intermediate wall and connecting said expanded gas side and said high pressure liquefied gas side;

placing an end sealing plug in said cylindrical wall;

inwardly curling said-free end to form a reduced size free end;

holding said plug against said reduced size free end by holding means passing through said tube receiving opening and bonding and sealing said plug to said reduced size free end;

removing said holding means from said tube receiving opening; securing an expansion valve supporting tube in said tube receiving opening, said tube having an intake end extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side and having a discharge end extending toward said expaned gas side; securing an expansion valve in said supporting tube with an operating stem extending toward said expanded gas side and with a valve opening and closing member operated by said stem and extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side; and

securing an expanded gas pressure responsive diaphragm in said massive body adjacent to and actuating said stem.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which a liquefied gas restrictor is provided adjacent said intake end of said supporting tube.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which said supporting tube is secured so that said intake end is located above the normal highest liquefied gas level in said high pressure chamber.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which said metal slug is subjected to an extrusion step to form said intermediate wall and said cylindrical homogeneous high pressure gas chamber forming wall.

5. A method according to claim 2 in which said liquefied gas restrictor is formed by inserting a straight sided equilateral restrictor plug in a cylindrical end portion of said supporting tube.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which said restrictor plug previously has its ends tapered.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which said restrictor plug previously has the edges of its sides rounded to fit in said cylindrical end portion.

'8. A method according to claim 7 in which said restrictor plug previously has its ends tapered and previously has the edges of its sides rounded to fit in said cylindrical end portion.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which said restrictor plug has previously been formed from an equilateral bar and has had a cylindrical neck and a cylindrical head formed at the end of said restrictor plug and has said head inserted in a reduced diameter portion of said tube.

10. In combination:

an extruded massive expansion valve and expansion valve chamber supporting body with said body having an extruded intermediate wall with an expanded gas side directed in one direction and with a high pressure liquefied gas side directed in the opposite direction and with an extruded cylindrical homogeneous high pressure gas chamber forming wall with a free end extending from said high pressure liquefied gas side;

said intermediate wall having a tube receiving opening connecting said expanded gas side and said high pressure liquefiedgas side;

an end sealing plug in said cylindrical wall, said free end being inwardly curled to form a reduced size free end, and said plug being bonded to and sealing said reduced size free end;

an expansion valve supporting tube in said tube receiving opening, said tube having an intake end extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side, and having a discharge end extending toward said expanded gas side said tube having a liquefied gas restrictor at said intake end;

an expansion valve in said supporting tube with an operating stem extending toward said expanded gas side and with a valve opening and closing member operated by said stem and extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side; and

an expanded gas pressure responsive diaphragm in said massive body adjacent to and actuating said stem.

11. A combination according to claim 10 in which said supporting tube is secured so that said intake end is located above the normal highest liquefied gas level in said high pressure chamber.

12. A combination according to claim 10 in which said supporting body has been formed from a metal slug which has been subjected to an extrusion step to form said extruded intermediate wall and said extruded cylindrical homogeneous high pressure gas chamber forming wall.

13. A combination according to claim 10 in which said liquefied gas restrictor includes a straight sided equilateral restrictor plug inserted in a cylindrical end portion of said supporting tube.

14. A combination according to claim 13 in which said restrictor plug has tapered ends.

15. A combination according to claim 13 in which said restrictor plug has the edges of its sides rounded to fit in said cylindrical end portion.

16. A combination according to claim 13 in which said restrictor plug has tapered ends and has the edges .of its sides rounded to fit in said cylindrical end portion.

17. A combination according to claim 16 in which said restrictor plug has a cylindrical neck and a cylindrical head formed at the end of said restrictor plug and has said head inserted in a reduced diameter portion of said tube.

18. In combination:

a gas chargeable container having an end wall with a charging needle receiving construction in a gas charging passageway with a longitudinal axis transverse to said wall, and with a conducting passageway branching obliquely at a branching connection from said charging passage-way and discharging into said container;

a charging needle receiving resilient plug in said construction, with a needle receiving normally sealed central puncture;

a needle blocking plate in said construction under said plug with gas passage means out of needle alignment with said puncture; v

a transverse wall below said plate and having a central gas conducting passageway with a discharge opening in a lower fiat transverse surface;

a resilient ring against said fiat transverse surface and surrounding said discharge opening; and

a check valve engaging said ring to produce one way gas flow in said branching connection.

19. A combination according to claim 18 in which said check valve includes aball poppet member and spring means urging said poppet member against said ring.

20. A method comprising:

forming a metal slug into an extruded massive expansion valve and expansion valve chamber supporting body with said body having an extruded intermediate wall with an expanded gas side directed in one direction and with a high pressure liquefied gas side directed in the opposite direction and with an extruded cylindrical, homogeneous, high pressure gas chamber forming wall with a free end extending from said high pressure liquefied gas side;

forming a tube receiving opening in said intermediate wall connecting said expanded gas side and said high pressure liquefied gas side;

inwardly curling said free end to form a reduced size free end;

sealing said reduced size free end;

securing an expansion valve supporting tube in said tube receiving opening, said tube having an intake end extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side and having a discharge end extending toward said expanded gas side;

securing an expansion 'valve in said supporting tube with an operating stem extending toward said expanded gas side and with a valve opening and closing member operated by said stern and extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side; and

securing an expanded gas pressure responsive diaphragm in said massive body adjacent to and actuating said stem.

21. In combination:

an extruded massive expansion valve and expansion valve chamber supporting body with said body having an extruded intermediate wall with an expanded gas side directed in one direction and with a high pressure liquefied gas side directed in the opposite direction and with an extruded cylindrical homogeneous high pressure gas chamber forming wall with a free end extending from said high pressure liquefied gas side;

said intermediate wall having a tube receiving opening connecting said expanded gas side and said high pressure liquefied gas side;

said free end being inwardly curled to form a reduced size free end, and said reduced size free end being sealed;

an expansion valve supporting tube in said tube receiving opening, said tube having an intake end extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side, and having a discharge end extending toward said expanding gas side;

an expansion valve in said supporting tube with an operating stem extending toward said expanded gas side and with a valve opening and closing member operated by said stem and extending toward said high pressure liquefied gas side; and

an expanded gas pressure responsive diaphragm in said massive body adjacent to and actuating said stem.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,411,669 11/1968 IPuster 1375l2.l5XR

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner W. H. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,508,569 April 28, 1970 Louis M. Puster It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, Robertshaw Controls Company, P. O. Box 400, Knoxville, Tenn. 37601" should read Knoxville, Tenn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va. a corporation of Delaware Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

